Validity and Reliability of Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 in Iranian Non-Clinical Children and Adolescents

The present study aimed to explore the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5). Two groups of non-clinical children and adolescents were recruited. The first group (n = 520) was recruited via 4 schools of Tehran, Iran, and only completed the YAM-5. The second group (n = 557) was recruited via 4 schools of Tabriz, Iran. In addition to the YAM-5, they completed another anxiety scale and a depression scale. The exploratory factor analysis of data of the first group revealed a five factor model similar to the original model of the scale. The confimatory factor analysis showed that the five factor model fit with the data of second group. Also, the convergent validity was supported. The current findings, thus, provide support for validity and reliability of Persian version of the YAM-5 in a nonclinical sample of children and adolescents in Iran

Relapse Among Patients Referring to Residential Rehabilitation Centers for Drug Use Disorders in Iran and Its Related Factors

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the individual characteristics of clients who were referred to residential rehabilitation centers for drug use disorders and to determine their relapse-related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 576 patients who were referred to nine residential treatment centers for drug use disorders, chosen by the cluster sampling method. A self-constructed questionnaire to assess personal and addictive characteristics was applied. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Independent t-test. Multiple regression models were applied to determine the factors affecting the time of relapse. Results: The average interval between quitting drug use and relapse was found to be 4.7 months with a standard deviation of 4.1. Age and relapse were found to be correlated (0.193), but the correlation was not found to be statistically significant (P=0.12). There was significant correlation between occupational status (P=0.014) and number of attempts to quit drug use (P=0.019) with relapse. In addition, there were significant correlations between relapse time with injection history (P=0.035), victim history (P=0.047), risky sexual behaviors (P=0.022), sexual dysfunction (P=0.019), having a consumer as a close friend (P=0.001), another drug user in family (P=0.001), compulsory treatment (P=0.033), and alcohol consumption (P=0.041). There was no significant relationship between relapse with duration of addiction, type of abused drug, education, staying longer in centers, and marital status. Discussion: There is a high chance of relapse in case of patients who seek treatment in residential rehabilitation centers for drug use disorders. Paying attention to the patients social status and especially their occupation and connection with the treatment center after discharge reduces possibility of relapse

Risk and protective factors for substance use among Iranian university students: a national study

Abstract Background Substance use is a major mental health concern among university students. It may result in behavioral and academic problems, psychiatric disorders, and infectious diseases. Thus, this study investigated the risk and protective factors of substance use among Iranian university students. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. A number of 7330 students were selected from 30 universities in Iran. The participants completed a researcher-designed questionnaire. It measured life time, previous year and previous month’s substance use, demographic characteristics, and a body of risk and protective factors including, religious beliefs, self-esteem, stress and psychological pressure, sensation seeking, attention seeking, anger and aggression, depression and anxiety, parents’ positive attitude towards substance use, lack of intimacy between family members, plus substance use, smoking cigarettes or hookah, alcohol consumption, and prescribed medications use by their family members, easy access to illegal drugs, peers’ positive attitude towards substance use, peers’ drug use, perceived prevalence of substance use among students, and negative attitude toward university. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Participants’ anger and aggression, depression and anxiety, participants’ positive attitude towards substances, low level of religious beliefs, peers and family member’s substance use, and parent’s positive attitude towards substance significantly and strongly predicted using cigarette/hookah, alcohol, hard drugs, and prescribed medications. Having a negative attitude toward university significantly predicted using all types of substance (except for prescribed medications). Low self-esteem predicted using cigarette/hookah, and alcohol use. Perceived availability of illegal drugs predicted hard drugs and prescribed medications’ consumption. Finally, peers’ positive attitude toward drugs anticipated cigarette/hookah use. Conclusion Prevention programs are most needed among Iranian students. They should be comprehensive in nature and focus on students’ psychoeducation about substances and their related negative consequences, plus promotion of students’ life skills, and integrate family- and peer-based preventive interventions

The efficacy of schema therapy on coping styles and body image concerns in obese people with binge-eating disorder : A single subject study

Background: Inefficient coping styles and concern about body image are among the components that affect obese people with binge-eating disorders and lead to unhealthy eating behaviors. However, deep psychological interventions that focus on these components have received less attention. Considering that schema therapy is an integrated, deep, and effective treatment, the question of the current research is whether this intervention can affect coping styles and body image concerns in obese people with binge-eating disorders. Aims: The purpose of the study was the effectiveness of schema therapy on coping styles and body image concerns in obese people with binge eating disorder. Methods: The design of the current research was semi-experimental with a single-subject structure, including baseline, intervention and follow-up. The statistical population of the study included all obese women suffering from overeating who referred to a slimming clinic in Tehran in 2021-2022. The research sample consisted of eight obese women. The research tools were Young and Rygh's extreme compensation questionnaire (1994), Young and Rygh's avoidance questionnaire (1994), Fairburn’s eating disorder symptoms questionnaire (2008) and semi-structured interview and schema therapy protocol (Simpson, 2018). For data analysis, percentage of non-overlapping data, improvement percentage, valid change index and trend chart were used. Results: Indicators of improvement percentage, percentage of non-overlapping data, and reliable change index in the avoidance variable for the second, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth participants; In the variable of extreme compensation for the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth participants and in the variable of physical concerns, all the participants had a significant improvement in the intervention and follow-up stage (they had an RCI higher than 1.96), which indicates The efficacy and stability of schema therapy results. Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of schema therapy on extreme avoidance and compensation styles and body image concerns, it is suggested to pay attention to the physical components in the treatment of obese people suffering from overeating, to psychological components such as maladaptive schemas and coping styles arising from them